Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 1:06 p.m.

Ingram, Hickey offer plan to abolish lieutenant governor's office

In this Jan. 31 file photo, former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr’s name is pictured on the door of the now-vacant office at the Capitol. Two state senators have since proposed leading an effort to abolish the position of lieutenant governor.

The two senators said they plan to co-sponsor a joint resolution that would add a proposed constitutional amendment jettisoning the office, effective Jan. 1, 2019, to the November 2016 general election ballot.

Under the senators' plan, the lieutenant governor’s race winner in November would be able to serve out the full four-year term but there would be no statewide election for the office in 2018.

Ingram and Hickey said that if the governor resigned or were unable to fulfill the duties of the office because of health problems or impeachment, the state attorney general would assume the governor’s duties and vacate the attorney general’s office. The proposal also outlines a line of succession.

Hickey said he and Ingram were announcing the plan early "so that there would be sufficient opportunity to answer any questions the people have.”

These two demonstrate why the session length is limited. No one wants this other than a few legislators. Attempting to amend our constitution over this is a waste of time and money. There are more important things to be dealt with.